variants
also cagy
1
as in slick
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
a cagey old politician who is exceptionally skilled at getting federal money for his district
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hesitant
slow to begin or proceed with a course of action because of doubts or uncertainty
when it came time to sign the contract, he suddenly got cagey about taking on the job
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cagey
As of late, Nintendo has also been somewhat cagey about things like voice actors and the specific studios developing its games.
—
Jay Peters, The Verge, 17 Jan. 2025
This wry, lovelorn plaint is a cagey display of subtle dynamics and counterpoint on a lone electric guitar.
—Jon Pareles, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025
This was a very tough spot against a big, cagey Vegas team that’s been constructed like something of a reverse image of the Canucks.
—Thomas Drance, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
During a 2022 interview with The Hollywood Reporter to promote his Kevin Hart-Mark Wahlberg comedy Me Time, Hamburg was cagey when asked if another Meet the Parents sequel could happen.
—Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cagey
Jay Peters, The Verge, 17 Jan. 2025
This wry, lovelorn plaint is a cagey display of subtle dynamics and counterpoint on a lone electric guitar.
—Jon Pareles, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025
This was a very tough spot against a big, cagey Vegas team that’s been constructed like something of a reverse image of the Canucks.
—Thomas Drance, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
During a 2022 interview with The Hollywood Reporter to promote his Kevin Hart-Mark Wahlberg comedy Me Time, Hamburg was cagey when asked if another Meet the Parents sequel could happen.
—Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cagey
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cagey
Adjective
-
Allen cited a particularly slick double play Albies turned recently.—
David O'Brien,
New York Times,
10 May 2025
-
Wooden tools may periodically need to be treated with beeswax to keep them smooth and slick.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
That prospect has left a number of moderate and vulnerable Republicans hesitant to cut a program that covers their constituents and risk facing political backlash in next year’s elections.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
20 May 2025
-
While some organizations are understandably hesitant to abandon on-premises infrastructure entirely due to concerns over security, regulatory compliance, and data control, the reality is that maintaining an AI-ready on-premises data center often proves cost-prohibitive and operationally unfeasible.—
Ivo Ivanov,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
Adjective
-
In real life, most would-be Proud Boys don’t have cunning, progressive housemates who will throw away their gun parts.—
Amy Weiss-Meyer,
The Atlantic,
8 May 2025
-
Premiering in January 2023, The Traitors has gone on to widespread acclaim, even winning Emmys for Outstanding Reality Competition Program and Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program (Alan Cumming on cunning form).—
Griff Griffin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
Foreign governments are increasingly reluctant to crack down on U.S. tech firms—not just because of their digital leverage and economic clout but also because doing so could provoke official backlash from Washington.—
Ian Bremmer,
Foreign Affairs,
13 May 2025
-
Automakers themselves are reluctant to call attention to any price increases, out of fears of chasing away customers and of angering the Trump administration.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
12 May 2025
Adjective
-
She has been married twice, marrying director Chris Calkins in 2009. 08 of 09 Woody Harrelson as Woody Boyd Woody Harrelson's Woody Boyd joined Cheers in season 4 as a not-so-bright but very cute bartender.—
Kate Hogan,
People.com,
20 May 2025
-
Located about 10 minutes from downtown, the winery has a tasting room and a cute patio for outdoor sipping.—
Amanda Ogle,
Travel + Leisure,
18 May 2025
Adjective
-
Their dubious ‘reward’ for topping the league phase table was a matchup with another of the best teams on the continent, Paris Saint-Germain, who had underperformed in the league phase but were an obvious sleeping giant.—
James Nalton,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
-
After the 2020 election, Fox took her off the air because her promotion of the false contention Dominion voting machines rigged the election against Trump became part of its $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox. Pirro and Martin are not the only dubious department appointees.—
Carl Leubsdorf,
Mercury News,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
And Luis Guzmán makes a welcome appearance as Mia’s wily Uncle Raul, whose scrapyard is a front for criminal sidelines.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Apr. 2025
-
The story arc, anchored by George Bizet’s famous musical score, focuses the narrative on Don José, the Spanish soldier who falls for the wily Carmen and her charms.—
Lisa Vernon Sparks,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Roseman had obtained the 10th pick via shrewd trades, then traded up one spot to get Carter.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Apr. 2025
-
He was roasted by his party for negotiating with local Democrats to give them a seat on the township board in exchange for keeping the GOP majority, a move that looks shrewd today.—
Justin Kaufmann,
Axios,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cagey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cagey. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share